The term “bunny” encompasses rabbits, hares, and pikas, all belonging to the scientific order Lagomorpha. While widespread species, like the European rabbit or North American cottontails, are numerous and abundant, their status does not reflect the entire order. Many specialized species within this group face significant threats to their survival. Almost one in four species of lagomorphs is currently classified as threatened.
Understanding the Classification of Rabbits and Hares
The order Lagomorpha is divided into two families: Ochotonidae (pikas) and Leporidae (rabbits and hares). These animals are taxonomically distinct from rodents. Because conservation status varies dramatically even among closely related populations, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List is used to categorize the extinction risk for each distinct species.
This global standard uses several categories, ranging from Least Concern (LC) for abundant populations to Near Threatened (NT), Vulnerable (VU), Endangered (EN), and Critically Endangered (CR) for those facing the highest risk. Most common species fall into the Least Concern category. Specialized species with restricted habitats are often highly susceptible to localized threats.
Specific Rabbits and Hares Under Threat
The most precarious situations involve species with highly restricted geographical ranges, making them vulnerable to single, catastrophic events. One of the most endangered is the Riverine Rabbit (Bunolagus monticularis), which is Critically Endangered and found only in the Karoo region of South Africa. This species is entirely dependent on the riparian vegetation of seasonal rivers, a habitat that has been largely converted to agricultural land.
Mexico’s Endangered Volcano Rabbit (Romerolagus diazi) is confined to isolated patches of high-altitude grassland, known as zacatón, on the slopes of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt. Numbering only about 3,000 individuals, this rabbit is one of the smallest lagomorphs. The Amami Rabbit (Pentalagus furnessi) is endemic to the Japanese islands of Amami Ōshima and Tokunoshima, where it is listed as Endangered. This dark-furred rabbit represents an ancient lineage and is often called a “living fossil.”
Factors Driving Declines in Wild Populations
The primary driver of decline across lagomorph species is the fragmentation and destruction of specialized habitats. The expansion of human infrastructure, agriculture, and resource extraction breaks up ecosystems, pushing species into smaller, isolated subpopulations. For the Riverine Rabbit, nearly all of its natural floodplain habitat has been degraded or converted, leaving the species without the necessary alluvial soils for its breeding burrows.
Introduced diseases represent a second, immediate threat that can quickly decimate populations already weakened by habitat loss. The emergence of the Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus 2 (RHDV2) causes rapid, fatal illness in a wide range of native lagomorphs, including cottontails and jackrabbits. The introduction of non-native predators, such as mongooses, feral cats, and dogs, has severely impacted island species like the Amami Rabbit, which evolved without defenses against such threats.
Protecting Vulnerable Lagomorphs
Conservation efforts for threatened lagomorphs combine protection of existing wild populations with intensive management programs. Habitat restoration focuses on rehabilitating degraded ecosystems and establishing protected areas where human disturbance is strictly limited. For the Volcano Rabbit, this includes managing the high-altitude grasslands to prevent further destruction from logging and grazing pressure.
For species facing imminent extinction, such as the Columbia Basin Pygmy Rabbit, captive breeding programs serve as a safeguard against total loss. These programs manage genetics to maintain diversity and produce offspring for reintroduction into protected areas. Management of infectious diseases is also important, with surveillance programs monitoring the spread of RHDV2 in wild populations and targeted vaccination efforts for domestic lagomorphs to prevent spillover.